Electro-magnetic reciprocating engine



110.450,!543. Patented Apr. 14,1891.

wan/1410M Charles J. VEznDcpoeZie UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRO-MAGNETIC RECIPROCATING ENGlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,548, dated April 14, 1891.

Application filed December 29, 1890. $erial No. 876,103. (No model.)

To all 1071/07 17, it nmy concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. VAN DE- POELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electro-llagnetic Reciprocating Engines of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in electromagnetic engines of the type in which a magnetic plunger is reciprocated within an electro-magnetic cylinder.

In the various electromagnetic engines heretofore patented by me, of which those shown in Patents Nos. 431,492, 431,493, and 431,49l, July 1, 1890, are examples, the engine comprises a solenoid or solenoids through which current is passed, and said solenoid operates to reciprocate a piston arranged on the interior thereof. The piston may be actuated in a great variety of ways, and for the purposes of the present invention it is immaterial in what manner the actuating-current is distributed through the coils of the engine. Furthermore, the coils of the engine or motor-coils may be constructed in sections, substantially as indicated in Patent No. 436,277, granted to me September 9, 1890.

lVhatevcr the exact nature of the structure, the engine comprises motor-coils having a diamagnetie lining or casing, within which a magnetic piston is movably arranged. The motor-coils are surrounded by an iron casing or envelope having heads and forming in it self a closed magnetic circuit. For the purpose of facilitating the passage of lines of force from the iron casing of the layers to the center of the coils to react upon the plunger, I place between the layers or sections or divisions of the motor-coils a number of layers, thicknesses, or disks of iron extending from the exterior casing to, or substantially to, the inner diameter of the motor-coils, the same acting to more rapidly transmit the lines of force to the interior of the solenoid or solenoids, where they will act upon the plunger. By these means it will be understood that the magnetic pull of the solenoids or motorcoils will be greatly increased. The effect, however, can be varied far as speed is concerned by employing thin disks of iron separated from each other by mica or other similar substance which will allow of rapid magnetization and demagnetization. For rapidlymoving machines smaller coils with light iron disks will be desirable, whereas for slower work heavier iron disks with coils of larger wire might be most successfully used.

In the accompanying drawin s, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electromagnetic engi ne-cylinder showing an arrangement of motor-coils having interposed layers of iron. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1,but showing more subdivisions between the motor-coils and thinner bodies of iron between them. Fig. 3 is a view resembling Figs. 1 and 2, but shows interposed layers of iron between a part only of the coils.

As shown in the drawings, A is the outside iron envelope of the machine; B B, iron heads fitting the envelope and forming a closed easing, within which are contained the motor coils O.v The motor-coils O are provided with a tubular interior lining or casing D of diamagnetic material, which may be metal or other substance, as desired.

E is a plunger of magnetic material adapted to be reciprocated within the tube D and to carry a tool-holding stem 6.

Between each of the coils O, or between any desired number of the layers of each of the said coils, are placed magnetic extensions, which consist of layers or disks F of thin sheet-iron. Of course any desired number of thicknesses of the iron may be assembled to provide the desired magnetic conductivity. It will furthermore be apparent that the magnetic extensions F need not necessarily be in the form of perfect disks, since they may be in the nature of a number of pins or points radiating from the exterior envelope of the machine toward the central tube.

The magnetic extensions F may be made heavier toward the ends of the machine and lighter toward the center of the length of the casing, and furthermore, by making the magnetic extensions of greater or less length or diameter, so as to bring their inner extremities nearer to or farther from the plunger containing the tube, the magnetic effect will be largely modified, and by suitably adjusting the length of the saidmagnetic extensions, so that they do not come too near the moving piston, the retarding action produced bylocal coils only, the central or middle portions of the coils not being so provided.

As indicated in Fig. 2, the piston E is of such length that it can close the magnetic circuit between the heads of the machine, and in this position the plunger is capable of sustaining a great weight with a very small amount of current energy passing through the motor-coils, and in order to use a machine of this type for heavy work-such as pumpingit should be placed vertically, and may be made single-acting, so that when the current is cut off the weight of'the piston will return it to its first position.

The main feature of the present invention consists, as before stated, in employing the magnetic extensions between the iron envelope of the machine and the moving piston, and this may be availed of in a very great many ways. It is impossible for me in this application to mention the various uses to which my said invention may be adapted, and it therefore follows that the same may be employed in various ways without departing therefrom.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. An electro-magnetic reciprocating engine comprising a magnetic shield or envelope, motor-coils within the envelope, a magnetic piston adapted to be reciprocated within the motor-coils, and magnetic extensions from the envelope toward the interior of the coils, substantially as described.

2. An electro-magnetic reciprocating engine, an iron envelope, motor-coils, and magnetic extensions, as iron disks, alternating with the layers of the motor-coils and extending from the envelope toward the axis of the coils, substantially as described.

3. An electro-magnetic reciprocating engine comprising an exterior magnetic envelope, an interior diamagnetictube, a magnetic piston adapted to be reciprocated within the tube, motor-coils in the space between the tube and the envelope, and magnetic extensions arranged between the layers of the motor-coils and extending from the envelope toward the central tube, substantially as described.

4. In an electromagnetic reciprocating engine, the combination, with an exterior iron envelope and an interior diamagnetic tube, of an iron plunger within the tube, motorcoils between the tube and envelope, and laminated or subdivided iron plates or disks ar ranged between the layers of the motor-coils and extending between the envelope and the tube to facilitate the passage of the lines of force, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. GIBBONEY, CHAS. H. OLIN. 

